Personality
The Golden Retriever has a kind, friendly and confident temperament. They are not "one man dogs" and are equally friendly with strangers and those familiar to them. Their trusting, gentle disposition therefore makes them a poor guard dog. Any form of unprovoked aggression or hostility towards either people, dogs or other animals, whether in the show ring or community, is completely unacceptable in a Golden Retriever and is not in keeping with the character of the breed and is considered a serious fault. Nor, should a Golden Retriever be unduly timid or nervous.
The typical Golden Retriever, is calm, naturally intelligent and biddable, with an exceptional eagerness to please. They are excellent with children and this, along with their other qualities, has made them a favorite family pet.
As the name suggests, the Golden Retriever loves to retrieve. Whether it's a thrown stick, tennis ball or flying disc, retrieving can keep a dog of this breed occupied and entertained for hours, particularly if there is water involved. They might also pick up and retrieve any object that is near to them when greeting a human friend.
Golden Retrievers are compatible with children and adults and are good with other dogs, cats and most livestock. Golden Retrievers are particularly valued for their high level of sociability towards people, their calmness and willingness to learn. Because of this, they are commonly used as guide dogs, mobility assistance dogs, and search and rescue dogs.
Training
Golden Retrievers are exceptionally trainable due to their intelligence, athleticism and desire to please their handlers. They generally excel in obedience trials. Harsh training methods will typically cause Goldens to “shut down", therefore positive reinforcement is a more effective way to train them.
Goldens are noted for their intelligence, and can learn up to roughly 240 commands, words and phrases. These dogs are also renowned for their patience with children. As with any breed of dog, if not appropriately trained and supervised, a Golden may accidentally injure a child due to their high-spirited nature.
Typically, Goldens are fairly unruly as puppies and may chew and retrieve everything in sight. By the time they reach maturity, Goldens will have become active and fun-loving animals with the exceptionally patient demeanor befitting a dog bred to sit quietly for hours in a hunting blind.
Adult Golden Retrievers love to work, and have a keen ability to focus on a given task. They will seemingly work until collapse, so care should be taken to avoid overworking them.